10-man Barca win Spanish Super Cup after Mbappe’s first Clasico goal

Barcelona recovered from a spectacular opening goal by Kylian Mbappe and the 56th-minute dismissal of goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to thrash Real Madrid and win the Spanish Super Cup at Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City.

Madrid striker Mbappe charged almost half the length of the pitch to score his first goal in the fixture known as El Clasico, but Lamine Yamal equalised 17 minutes later, dashing on to Robert Lewandowski’s clever first-time pass and slotting coolly in after entering the box.

Lewandowski converted a penalty, Raphinha buried an emphatic header from Jules Kounde’s cross and Alejandro Balde completed a brilliant counter-attack as Hansi Flick’s side established a 4-1 half-time lead, with the Brazil winger firing in again three minutes after the break.

When Szczesny was shown a straight red card for denying Mbappe a clear scoring opportunity, midfielder Gavi made way in order for Inaki Pena – who was dropped before Barca’s semi-final for lateness – to come on in goal.

Pena barely had time to settle before Rodrygo replied for Madrid with a sublime free-kick. It proved only a modest consolation as the reigning European champions’ five-game winning run came to an end and Barca gained stylish revenge for their 4-1 defeat in last season’s final.

The first half, in one image. #ElClásico pic.twitter.com/DVH74c22CX

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 12, 2025

Barcelona storm to Spanish Super Cup glory

Barcelona have been on a remarkably poor run against Spanish opponents since winning 4-0 at Madrid in La Liga on October 26 and beating Espanyol 3-1 at home a week later.

Flick’s team were coasting at the top of the table at that point of his first season in charge, but four defeats and one win in seven league games have made results like these potentially crucial to his players’ confidence.

That they recovered after Mbappe’s dazzling run and trickery for the opener made it all the more impressive, and their depleted ranks mattered little thanks to the three-goal cushion they had created through Balde’s goal 10 minutes into first-half added time.

On his second game back from injury after scoring in the 2-0 semi-final win over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, Yamal collected a stray pass near the edge of his own penalty area and found Raphinha as part of a move spanning most of the length of the pitch and ending in Balde finding the net.

🏆 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/oNI37RtVUZ

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 12, 2025

Madrid, Barcelona fixtures

Madrid, who beat Mallorca 3-0 in their semi-final, are five points ahead of Barcelona in second in La Liga, with leaders Atletico Madrid a point further ahead.

There is now a quick turnaround for both teams after their trips to Saudi Arabia for the deciding Super Cup games, starting when Barca host Real Betis in the Copa del Rey last 16 on Wednesday (8.30pm GMT).

Madrid are at home to Celta Vigo a day later (8.30pm), with 14th-placed Las Palmas their visitors in the league on Sunday (3.15pm).

On Saturday (8pm), Barcelona will target their first league victory since December 3 when they travel to 15th-placed Getafe, who have scored the joint-fewest goals in the division.